Longoria Delivers for Rays

Evan Longoria drove in three runs and David Price pitched six strong innings to become the AL’s first six-game winner as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Indians, 6-2, yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The AL East leaders improved baseball’s top record to 28-11 heading into a two-game series at Yankee Stadium. New York has the second-best mark in the majors.

“It’s going to be fun going up there, as it should be,’’ Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “You want to be on the top. You want to play the best teams. You want to play in the best division. I think it’s great. Our guys will be ready for it. Our game’s a pretty good game right now. We haven’t hit to our potential yet, but we’ve been doing everything else.’’

Longoria, who has 21 RBIs in his past 19 games, had a run-scoring double off David Huff (1-6) in the third and a two-run triple off Hector Ambriz that was the biggest blow in a four-run sixth.

Price (6-1) won his fourth straight decision. The 24-year-old lefthander held the Indians to an unearned run and four hits before turning over a 5-1 lead to the bullpen.

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